Journey to the Finish Linetag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-15217482009-11-20T11:00:30ZTypePadPreview: Ironman Arizonatag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20120a6ba72a5970b2009-11-20T06:00:30-05:002009-11-20T11:00:30ZLast month it was the World Championships in Kona. This weekend, the qualifying cycle begins again as a sold-out field competes in the sixth Ironman Arizona on Sunday. The Arizona event originally was an April affair, but the Ironman corporation moved the race to November in its race calendar when temperatures in Tempe are bit more conducive to 140.6 miles. (In fact in 2008, there were two Ironman Arizona events -- one in April and one in November). Ironman Arizona is the last North American IM race on the calendar until Lake Placid in July. Only six of the 22-branded...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/preview-ironman-arizona.htmlAdding up the mega milestag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e2012875b56c94970c2009-11-19T05:44:54-05:002009-11-19T10:44:54ZIt was my second run of the day and frankly, the thought that this was a bit freakish entered my mind. Normally I don't run twice in one day, but life circumstances had me miss a run earlier in the week. With warm, sunny weather for November in Buffalo, I figured why not sneak in the easy run I missed the day before? So in the morning, I completed an easy 45-minute run. In the late afternoon came the second run, another 45-minutes this time with some tempo intervals. In the grand scheme of running, two 45-minute runs isn't all...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/adding-up-the-mega-miles.htmlThe Biggest Loser: Makeover Weektag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e2012875b10bcb970c2009-11-18T06:45:48-05:002009-11-18T11:45:48ZIt's one of the highlights of the show The Biggest Loser -- the makeover. At some point late in the game the contestants get a celebrity-style treatment of hair, makeup and clothing. On the surface, it seems a bit like an exercise in vanity, but there is a symbolism to it that runs much deeper than just getting a new look. As Tabatha Coffey, a hairstylist and reality show maven herself, described, the contestants are letting go of the person they once were, the perceptions they once had of themselves in order to step into the person they are becoming....Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/the-biggest-loser-makeover-week.htmlWork, joy and Grandpatag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e2012875a49a1d970c2009-11-16T05:54:00-05:002009-11-15T21:28:34ZIt was 5:45 in the morning when we started our run. The odd warmth for November made it a pleasant start, despite the darkness. After a mile, I came to the hill which would serve as my bounding station. Four times bounding up -- slightly bigger than normal stride, using my arms, thinking of my form and trying to keep a smooth and steady pace -- then a light jog to the bottom. The first one nearly killed me. The second one was tough. The third one made me want to cry and the fourth one caused me to continuously...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/gramps.htmlThe Lance effecttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e201287595e33a970c2009-11-13T06:19:58-05:002009-11-13T13:49:14ZThis just in -- Lance Armstrong's return to professional cycling has dramatically increased membership for USA Cycling. It's not much of a surprise, but then again, there is something comforting about statistics backing up what you believe to be obvious. In an article this week in Cycling News, USA Cycling announced its number of license holders will reach an all-time high of 66,600 members by the end of the year -- a 5.62 increase in memberships over last year. This, mind you, is not the total number of people cycling. These are people who are joining USA Cycling -- the...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/the-lance-affect.htmlBionic runnerstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20128756f2b86970c2009-11-12T06:17:00-05:002009-11-12T01:54:23ZWhat does an athlete look like? It's a question which historically has been used to discuss images of female athletes. But lately, it's a question that can be posed to discuss something broader, something tricker than gender or race. Disability. It's a topic that emerged over the last week after a new study found that prosthetic limbs hinder running performance. This contradicts concerns from 2008, when South African runner Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee and pretty darn fast 400 meter sprinter wanted to compete for a spot in the Olympics. He couldn't, said the international governing body for track and...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/bionic-runners.htmlBiggest Loser: A win turns into a losstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20120a6784b84970b2009-11-11T06:29:42-05:002009-11-11T11:29:42ZMost. Disappointing. Elimination. Ever. It was crazy week on The Biggest Loser last night as the field of eight contestants would be cut to six with two people sent home. The twist this week, new to the show, was the introduction of the "red line." For those not familiar with the show, each week the contestants step on a communal scale and are then ranked by percentage of body weight lost (as opposed to just pure pounds). Depending upon the structure for the week, either a team or individuals fall below the yellow line. There then is a conference where...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/biggest-loser-a-win-turns-into-a-loss.htmlRunning with cadencetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20120a66df5e9970b2009-11-10T07:55:10-05:002009-11-10T12:55:10Z"Cadence check!" It's sometime early in the morning, before the sun comes up and the best time to call out "cadence check" is upon hitting a stretch of good streetlights. We count how many times our right foot hits the ground during a 30-second span. "Stop!" "48," I tell Sue. "Me, too," she replies. And then the run continues with our usual conversation about friends, family and work. Until another cadence check opportunity arises. Such is the nature of my easy-paced runs. The goal of cadence running is to increase your turnover. The higher your cadence, the faster you will...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/running-with-cadence.htmlVacation authenticitytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20120a6657d11970b2009-11-09T06:18:21-05:002009-11-09T11:18:21ZThe refrigerator was stocked with yogurt and low-fat milk and fruit. Smoothies became the order of breakfast in the morning, which, when made with a scoop of chocolate protein mix, became the better way to start the day eating on the go. "Our kitchen is always healthier when you're around," my sister-in-law said to me. That's much better than the sideways glances and comments about "oh, that weird stuff you eat" which I often get from others in my long-time circle of family and friends. Last week brought a mix of the newly popular "staycation" and "fauxcation"-- as in taking...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/vacation-authenticity.htmlReview: Beauty Marktag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451b85a69e20120a65a36b8970b2009-11-06T05:50:00-05:002009-11-06T10:50:00ZWhen Diane Isreal set out to make a movie about the definition of beauty in American culture, little did she realize she would have to face her own demons about body image, self worth and ideals of beauty. An accomplished runner and triathlete, she had her own battles with eating disorders, over-exercising and feelings of self-worth, something unfortunately not unique to the world of athletics. As she examined cultural definitions of beauty, Isreal discovers that she has to explore her own family story before she can look at the issue more globally. The result is the documentary Beauty Mark, a...Blog Editorhttp://blogs.buffalonews.com/journey_to_the_finish_lin/2009/11/review-beauty-mark.html